Samantha (Sam) Adrian MITCHELL

Interviewer: Rebecca AMUNDSON

Abstracter: Greer PARKER

Interview: 26 August 2014

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:23 SAMANTHA ADRIAN MTICHELL. Born in 1971, in COLORADO SPRINGS, USA

00.31 Interview agreement

1:00 Interview commences - AMUNDSON mentions SANDRA FITZPATRICK (sp?) encouraged interview as MITCHELL is WILLIAM HODGES FELLOW [Southland artist in residence programme].

01.19 Immigrated with family to NEW ZEALAND in 1974 from AMERICA [UNITED STATES] - Father from BLACKWATER, OHIO - Mother’s father RUSSIAN - emigrated during 1918 revolution and settled in NEW JERSEY - mother’s maiden name changed to CALENA (sp?) - Details.

02.17 Immigrated when self was 2 – mentions older brother – stories of “the other life” fed to them as children – Explains. Born COLORADO SPRINGS – family house now ski resort – wildlife, bears – affected how self works - myths and stories - Explains.

03.10 Parents embraced American culture – went to very conservative primary school - FORTH OF JULY celebrations – Explains. Huge [extended] family – hasn’t got strong family connection - more or less like refugees - Explains

04.29 Parents were “American Hippies” - Grew up in DEVONPORT - naval base at the time; working class – Explains. 7 foot pyramid in backyard - parents into meditation – chickens and ducks in backyard, father made own beer and wine – “Self-sufficient in a very suburban little village” – Describes.

05.42 Recalls return trips to America - Mentions JAMES WALLACE ARTS TRUST - Difficulty connecting with American family – Explains.

07:02 [American’s perceptions of New Zealanders and New Zealand] – socialist country – LORD OF THE RINGS – SHEEP - Explains. Balancing family and lifestyle - Details

08:13 Recalls reasons for becoming an artist - Father wanted to be an artist - Encouraged to always draw – Hands-on parents – Accidents were what was expected – “left to roam and go to the tip” – Explains.

09:44 Self has always done art – Never done it in the public sector – Explains. 2005 got opportunity to show at gallery – previously worked in galleries – Explains. Mentions GUS FISHER GALLERY, AUCKLAND. Self known as “the gallery girl” – Explains. Been in several shows through ART SCHOOL but did not pursue it - Doesn’t pay the rent - Explains.

11:12 2010 won JAMES WALLACE ART AWARD – Award gave self opportunity to do residencies - [INVERCARGILL] is 4th residency – Strong work ethic – Explains. References NEW YORK; AUCKLAND.

12:00 Show opening in ARROWTOWN – Small body of work, reflects time in SOUTHLAND – Details. References SMAG (Southland Museum and Art Gallery).

12.30 2010 did residency called THE LOCK UP in NEWCASTLE, SYDNEY – Prison block built in 1862 – Details. Jail now a museum, artist lives above in police quarters – Locked in every night - Details. Made body of work there – WATERCOLOURS – 3 week residency - Explains. References ABORIGINES; AUSTRALIA; SYDNEY BIENNALE

14:28 Second residency - JAMES WALLACE (ICSP), BROOKLYN - 6 months studio space in warehouse – Details

15:00 End of Track 1

Track 2

00:01 [Second residency continued] – Self-directed projects – Field trips - Details. Mentions older brother living in NEW YORK

00:50 While doing ICSP, did another residency called POINTB (sp?) – Based in WILLIAMSBURG - Old factory - Lived on-site, studio on-site – Details

01:48 [Reflects on residencies] – Sourcing materials – Deadlines – Community - Explains. Mentions CERAMICS

03.09 Self is DYSLEXIC - Reads backwards - Work processes backwards – Painting on PERSPEX – Explains. Practice is blocking out light –- Technique details – Self usually works in PORTRAITURE - Explains. Mentions PRINTMAKING.

04:25 Recalls year doing PRINTMAKING at ELAM SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS – Technical process – Explains. Compares to doing CERAMICS in INVERCARGILL – Explains. Help from technician ANNIE BROKE (sp?), CERAMIC ARTIST – Allowing someone else to come into self’s practice – Explains.

06.36 [How Mitchell found out about residency in INVERCARGILL and why she applied] ARTIST HEATHER STRAKA suggested self apply for residency – Put application in – Didn’t think had got it – Spoke to artist GARY FREEMANTLE, “raved about it” - Details. References ANNA BIBBY GALLERY; MELANIE ROGER GALLERY, HERNE BAY, AUCKLAND; KATHRYN MITCHELL (sp?), SIT.

07:46 Never thought of self as small town girl – Can’t go to a paint store and get what you want [in Invercargill] – Explains.

08:17 [Reflects on coming to Invercargill] Small town – Sense of community - Joined INVERCARGILL CLUB – POTTERY CLUB - Explains.

08:49 Eventually heard self had got residency - “was over the moon” – Explains. Heat - HYDRANGEAS - YULE HOUSE – parks - Explains. References MATERNITY HOSPITAL

9:54 [Reflects on people met in Invercargill] People genuine, sincere – Lasting friendships – Explains. No one knew who self was when she came - Earned place not based on reputation – People’s reactions to self’s show - Explains.

11:13 Recommends coming down here - Time to adapt to different environment - Never been this far south – Explains. References DUNEDIN

11:52 ILT problems – Compares to LOTTERY COMMISSION in AUCKLAND –INVERCARGILL BREWERY – Outsider in small town - Explains.

12.58 Self’s work is usually narrative based – Explains. First point of call in INVERCARGILL GREY POWER – Wanted to hear from people who had lived here all their lives - Dropped off local newspapers everyday - Explains References THE EXPRESS [newspaper]

13:58 GREYPOWER put self in touch with ELIZABETH MILLER – Several interviews with her - One of self’s works (“We Never Saw The Lancaster”) based on poem by MILLER’s Father – ELIZABETH MILLER got self interested in idea of small township - Explains.

15:00 End of Track 2

Track 3

00:00 [ELIZABETH MILLER continued] – Township stagnated – Intergenerational gap – Explains. Idea of “the foundation” important in making of self’s work – Difference between conservative side and “underbelly” - Explains

01:21 Local stories used in self’s work - Spoke to local architect about BLACK SWAN, DEE STREET - “where you’d go for women and drink” - PROHIBITION – Explains. Self’s work sexually loaded – ROYAL DALTON swans – history of bordellos – Explains References AUCKLAND

03:13 Story about BLUFF OYSTER FESTIVAL – Festival cancelled – 4 degrees, sleeting rain - Describes

03:52 WEATHER in SOUTHLAND – Frost – compares to AUCKLAND - Describes. References RIVERTON; GORE; WAIKAIA

05:00 [Background story about “THE LANCASTER”] – Poem by FREDERICK GASCOYNE MILLER - Local poet who wrote for the SOUTHLAND TIMES – Details. Story about LANCASTER BOMBER – INVERCARGILL gave large sum to purchase plane – plane never made it to INVERCARGILL. Idea of missing out – Generation feel hard done by - Explains. Piece reflects back to strong foundation – Explains. References WORLD WAR II; DUNEDIN; SHEEP; NATIONAL RADIO.

07:57 [Background information on RURAL WOMEN’S SOCIETY piece] – About farming wives supporting each other – Explains. Self is non-driver – need a car down here – no transport system - Explains. Feels landlocked down here – smell cattle, smell farm – Explains. SHOOTING CLUB across tracks from Secondary School - GUNS – Explains. Mentions CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING, WHISKEY, MUTTONBIRD, WHITE BAIT, BLUFF OYSTERS – “It will all be good” (EXPRESSION) – Rolling R’s – Explains.

10:25 [Background Information about INVERCARGILL CLUB piece] – One of oldest established “Gentlemen’s Clubs” – established 1873 – Details. Mentions J. T. THOMPSON; SHAKLETON. DON STREET club rooms 1891 - No women admitted to club until 1997 – Details. PROHIBITION in INVERCARGILL – buy whatever they wanted to drink at the club – rules did not apply to club members - Explains. Club membership – barkeep MARION (SP?) - Details. Exclusive history – Own politics – Old school boys – Traditions – Snug – No ILT control – Explains References THE NORTHLAND CLUB

15:00 End of Track 3

Track 4

00:01 [INVERCARGILL CLUB continued.] – Codes and practices – Club hours – Details. Generation gap, no middle age group – Stoic feel – Explains. Self introduced SIT staff to club – New bunch coming through - Explains. Dress code – Explains. References WHISKEY; KATHRYN MITCHELL (sp?)

02:10 [Background information on “Plate with a skull” piece] – TATTOO Sailor’s used to get – Idea of foundations – Forefathers – Compares to AUCKLAND – ILT - Explains. Walking to studio in INVERCARGILL at 4.30 am – No one around – “Oldy worldy” [EXPRESSION] - Buildings – Still hold on strongly to foundations, the forefathers - Describes. Embraces skulls – Celebration of life - Explains

05:37 [Background information on “Gentleman with the knife” piece] – ILT – appropriated from DICK FRIZZELL painting “Touched by the Blood of the Lamb of God” – ILT – Explains. Story about the ILT – Details. Business down here difficult - Bend down to ILT rules – Stopping growth - Compares to LOTTERY COMMISSION in AUCKLAND – Explains. [ARTWORK] was reflecting control – Details. Mentions 1970s sheep killing on main street - PROTEST - FREEZING WORKS – Explains. References THE KILN; PERONI; SPEIGHTS; MONTEITHS

09:10 [Works to be displayed in ARROWTOWN] – Based on the CHINESE HISTORY – HISTORY of SOUTHLAND – Founding forefathers - BLACK SWAN – Explains. Mentions Platters reflecting AGRICULTURE, SHEEP, BEEF, SEA FOOD. SEA PORTS - BLUFF - explains. BLUE DELFT – EARLY PIONEERS – CHINESE print plates in MUSEUM - Details. Body of work – 5-8 pieces to ARROWTOWN - Details References BURT MUNRO; ARROWTOWN; NORTH ISLAND; CERAMICS

11:57 ART FOUNDATION chose ‘MARION’ and ‘YULE HOUSE’ – Details

12:23 [Discusses working environment in SOUTHLAND] – Isolated - “slow burn” – Explains. Genuine, warm, welcoming - Natural elements – Explains. Couldn’t get anything I needed – PERSPEX – Explains. Rely upon what you’re good at – Explains. Self gave talks to groups and committees – Explains

15:00 End of Track 4

Track 5

00:00 [Giving talks continued] - Explains

00:21 Self’s work to go up to AUCKLAND – over 60 or 70 CERAMIC pieces – Reflection of 6 months down here – New medium for self – Explains.

01:31 [Discusses thoughts on what Auckland people will think of work] – Humor in work - Outsider’s view on small, rural town – Explains. Mentions CERAMICS.

02:21 Wrapping up interview

02:38 Recording ends